Patent · US Active

Network elements, wireless communication system and methods therefor

US10433217B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
0References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 19, 2015
Grant dateOct 1, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 19, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W88/08
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for redirecting a wireless communication unit (113) from a LTE cell to a neighboring 3G or 2G cell for the purposes of performing a procedure which is available in the 2G or 3G cell but not available in the LTE cell includes the provision of an additional LTE access point (109) within the coverage area of an LTE macrocell. The additional LTE access point (109) is arranged to capture a wireless communication unit (113) which is camped onto the LTE macrocell and redirect it to a 3G/2G cell irrespective of whether or not a better service may be provided in the 2G/3G cell. The invention has application to presence detection where collection of wireless communication units' and subscribers' IDs for such a purpose is possible in 3G and 2G cells but not in LTE cells.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.